Since I was a young man, I have been a fan of the great Johnny Otis. Maybe because of his lifestyle, his love of music, Rhythm n’ Blues, Rock n’ Roll and Soul Food! I admired this man who is identified as a SINGER, DRUMMER, COMPOSER, ARRANGER, BANDLEADER, TALENT SCOUT, DISC JOCKEY, RECORD PRODUCER, TV SHOW HOST, ARTIST, JOURNALIST, MINISTER AND COOKBOOK AUTHOR! He was born Ioannis Alexandres Veliotes in Vallejo, California … his Father was a Longshoreman and his Mother was a painter. He grew up in a predominately black neighborhood in Berkeley, California, where his father owned a grocery store. He was known for his choice to live his professional and his personal life as a member of the African-American community. He once wrote … “As a kid I decided that if our society dictated that one had to be black or white, I would be black.” He discovered numerous artists early in their careers who went on to become Highly successful including, Little Esther Phillips, Etta James, Big Mama Thornton, Johnny Ace, Jackie Wilson, Little Willie Johnm Hank Ballard and the Robins among many others. Johnny Otis is known as the “Godfather of Rhythm and Blues. As I dug deeper into Johnny Otis the man, I realized that I was a lot like him, his love for SOUL music, culture, lifestyle and especially his love for food … Soul Food! He collected recipes from his family and friends over the years. He loves to cook and talk music … next to playing music, cooking is my favorite pastime. One of my favorite cookbook’s is … Johnny Otis … Red Beans and Rice and other Rock n’ Roll Recipes. As a musician, I’ve worked with so many of my musical heroes and have cooked for a lot of them at my house or at my restaurant, Atria’s … a place of live music and great food. Some of my favorite performers who broke bread at my Dining Room table are, Jimmy Merchant of the Teenagers, Eugene Pitt of the Jive Five, the Marvelettes, the Original Tymes, Joey Dee, Jimmy Beaumont of the Skyliners, Fred Johnson of the Marcels, Martha Reeves of the Vandellas and the list goes on. I wish I had recorded the conversations at my dining room table … if walls could only talk! I would love to have met Mr. Otis, to talk music and food and share favorite recipes … I was born a generation too late… and wish I was cookin’ and groovin’ on the Johnny Otis Show!